He may only be in his mid-thirties, but the instantly recognizable Joshua Jackson has been acting in TV and films for nearly a quarter-century. The actor broke out with a role in 1992’s “The Mighty Ducks,” but it was a little show on The WB called “Dawson’s Creek” that made him a household name. A decade after he started playing the role of Pacey Witter, Jackson took the lead in Fox’s sci-fi drama “Fringe,” lasted five seasons.

Only a year after the end of “Fringe,” Jackson is re-inventing himself again as ranch-owning, bereaved father and cuckold Cole Lockhart on Showtime’s hit new drama “The Affair.” It’s a role that he’s not only playing beautifully, but one that’s also helped Jackson realize that a career in television need not end with the exhausting marathon of working on network shows.

The actor talked with Speakeasy about his return to TV, what makes “The Affair” so special, and making his mark as Pacey Witter.